Heart failure

Question 1

Heart failure definition

Answer 1

-heart is unable to pump blood around the body properly
-usually due to heart becoming stiff or weak

Question 2

3 main types of heart failure

Answer 2

Chronic heart failure
-long term diagnosis
-high prevalence
-treated in community
-given diuretics, drugs to reduce BP
Acute on chronic heart failure
-when have chronic heart failure but symptoms worsen
-decompensated heart failure
Acute heart failure
-first presentation of HF symptoms
-think ACS

Question 3

LVF (left sided HF)
what is it, causes, signs and symptoms

Answer 3

-dysfunction of left ventricle
Causes
-hypertension
-coronary artery disease
-valvular disease- when valves don’t work properly
Signs + symptoms
-SOB
-pulmonary oedema due to blood backing up into lungs causing fluid build up in lungs

Question 4

RVF (right sided HF)
what is it, causes, signs and symptoms

Answer 4

-dysfunction of right ventricle
Causes
-LVF
-pulmonary hypertension eg. COPD
-right sided MI
Signs and symptoms
-peripheral oedema eg. legs if mobile or sacrum if not mobile
-ascites- fluid collects in abdomen
-Jugular vein distention- bulging of jugular vein in neck

Question 5

Indicators of HF

Answer 5

-dyspnoea
-worsening cough
-orthopnoea (difficulty breathing when lying down
-paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea (wake up with SOB)
-pulmonary oedema
-pink frothy sputum
-raised jugular vein

Question 6

HF algorithm

Answer 6

-gather history and complete examination
-if history and assessment suggests HF establish if they have care plan
-consider treatment based on presentation

Question 7

Cardiogenic shock

Answer 7

-can’t pump enough blood to support organ function
-classic signs of shock
-common cause= STEMI
-rapid treatment required

Question 8

HF risk factors

Answer 8

-coronary artery disease
-hypertension
-cardiomyopathies (disease heart muscle)
-valvular heart disease
-pericardial disease
-congenital heart disease- birth defect
-arrythmias
-obesity
-drugs
-COPD